JUPITER, Fla. The Marlins acquired Jacob Turner thinking he would be a fixture in the starting rotation for the foreseeable future. That future has not yet begun.

Turner after a horrid spring will open the season in Triple-A New Orleans. That was one of seven roster moves Tuesday morning. In addition to Turner, the Marlins also optioned left-hander Daniel Jennings to the Zephyrs. Infielders Nick Green, Matt Downs and Kevin Kouzmanoff, outfielder Jordan Brown and left-hander Zach Phillips were reassigned to minor league camp.

Manager Mike Redmond before Tuesday's game against the Nationals announced his rotation would be Ricky Nolasco, Nathan Eovaldi, Wade LeBlanc, Henderson Alvarez and Kevin Slowey. The Marlins signed Slowey, one of Redmond's battery mates with the Minnesota Twins, to a minor league contract.

"That was a tough one," Redmond said, of Turner's demotion. "We laid it out and made it very clear we see him in our plans, pitching in this rotation, but he's got to go down there and pound the strike zone and work on his command. When he does that he'll be back. It's just a matter of consistency."

Redmond had been hinting Turner's rotation spot was in jeopardy. In his last outing at Kissimmee on Sunday, Turner allowed four runs on five hits, walked four and struck out one in a rain-shortened 4-1 loss to the Astros. His Grapefruit League ERA was 9.69 with nine walks and five strikeouts in 13 innings.

"Obviously, I didn't feel like I showed as well in spring training as I would have liked," Turner said. "Throwing strikes has always been something that's been a big strength for me, so just get back to doing that, get back to pounding the strike zone."

The centerpiece of the last July 23rd trade that sent Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante to the Tigers, Turner started seven games for the Marlins and went 1-4 with a 3.38 ERA, nine walks and 29 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings. Over his final five starts he was 1-2 with a 2.27 ERA (31 2/3 innings) and a .197 opponents' average.

While this demotion for Marlins fans probably conjures memories of another highly-touted, low-output pitcher acquired from the Tigers in Andrew Miller, keep in mind Turner is only 21. He was drafted out of St. Louis Westminster Christian High School ninth overall in 2009 and made his major league debut two seasons later after just 44 games (43 starts) and 246 1/3 minor league innings.

"At this point I wasn't able to show what I feel like I am as a pitcher, but it's not going to stop me from going down there and working and getting better and getting back up here as soon as I can," Turner said. "I feel like I'm really close. I really do. That's a little bit frustrating, too, but it's part of it and I understand I have to perform better than I did."

The Jennings demotion means that unless the Marlins make another acquisition, Mike Dunn will open the season as the lone lefty in the bullpen.

"I would feel more comfortable having two lefties in there, but at the same time too we've got to have guys that can command the strike zone," Redmond said. "If it's going with a right-hander that can get lefties out then that might be the direction we're headed."